Before we start welcoming the 2009 draftees, how about one more look at the draft class of 2008. Sure year two might be a bit premature to judge the true impact of a draft class,
but it's not too early to start getting some value and contributions from your picks.
Laws, Demps, and Jackson…the highlights of the Eagles' 2008 draft class.
Jackson enters the 2009 season as a starter. The potential just oozes from this guy. His stated goals for this season are 1,000+ receiving yards and 10 TDs. He should be in the vicinity of those numbers.
Demps showed flashes last year until imploding in the NFC Championship Game. Reid recently announced that the starting job is his to lose come training camp. No doubt his battle with Sean Jones will be one of the more intriguing competitions up at Lehigh.
Laws will continue to factor into the DT rotation. I just don't see him challenging Bunkley or Patterson for a starting position.
Is there anyone else from the 2008 draft class that the Eagles can expect contributions from this season? At first look it appears doubtful.
Maybe the next contributor is CB Ikegwuonu? Ikegwuonu should have every chance to win the 4th CB position. Training camp will be our first chance to see if he is fully healed and can overcome a season of not playing. Win the 4th CB position this year and then maybe in 2010 he continues moving up the depth chart. In the best case scenario Ikegwuonu is a back-up this season.
After Ikegwuonu it looks even more doubtful that any 2008 draftees will step in and contribute heavily this season.
Next up would be Bryan Smith. Smiths' size makes him a liability against the run so his primary role would be 3rd down specialist (bring the pressure). Unfortunately for Smith I can't see him taking time away from Coles at RDE and Clemons already plays the same role at LDE. It would seem that his playing would also be limited.
The insertion of Akeem Jordan in the starting line-up steadied the LBing group last season. So as much as we would love to see Mays get additional time I find it difficult to see where the playing time would come from outside of beating out Gaither for any spot duty as a back-up. Mays isn't supplanting Stewart in the starting line-up.
The rest of the bunch well they too are back-ups as best. Gibson and McGlynn, both Guards, would appear to be battling for a single roster spot, while Dunlap should be thankful that his only current competition at LT is Justice.
So at this point we have one definite starter, one maybe starter, and a fixture in a defensive rotation. As the years go by maybe Ikegwuonu or Smith will begin to show value as well.
10 picks and 3 contributors. Such numbers and having 12 picks this draft season makes you hope that the Eagles are thinking trades.
